Whiffletree-hook.



1. GANSLEY.

WHIFFLETREE HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-6,1916.

1 1 87,299. Patented June 13, 1916.

-IIL'IIIILTI- l Jacab C(maley I attorney p 'rnn srarns PATENT orrron.

JACOB GANSLEY, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA.

. WHIFFLETREE-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13,1916.

Application filed January 6, 1916. Serial No. 70,606.

clear, and exact description thereof, refer-' ence being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel improvement in whiftletree hooks of the type shown in my Patent No. 796,314 of August 1, 1905, and its object is to make a hook which can be readily attached to an ordinary whifiletree or swingletree; will brace or strengthen the ends of the whifiletree; will present a compact and more finished appearance; will securely hold the trace-eye therewith, so that the latter cannot be casually disengaged therefro-m;which will be stronger than my patented hook, and less liable to be disarranged or broken; and in which all the pulling strain will be more substantially transmitted directly to the whittletree.

The invention consists in the novel construction of the hook illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and summarized in the appended claim.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hook applied to one end of a whifiletree, and showing in dotted lines a trace-eye attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of such hook closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view thereof showing the hook open, and also indicating in dotted lines the trace-eye in position for engagement with or disengagement from the hook. Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of the hook showing in full lines a trace-eye engaged with the hook, and in dotted lines the trace-eye in position. for engagement with or disengagement from the hook.

The hook is composed of two main members, one of which has a sleeve port-ion adapted to fit over the end of the whiftletree and serve as a collar for the same and also as the means of attaching the connected hook member to the whiflletree. The other member is in the form of a cap adapted to fit over the outer end of the first member and cover the end of the whiflietree, and also support the hook member connected therewith directly on the first member.

The first member comprises a cylindric sleeve or collar portion 1 adapted to be rectly opposed thereto.

tightly fitted onto the end of the whiflletree or swingletree WV, which may be of wood as usual; portion 1 serving as a collar to strengthen and bond the end of the whittletree. Formed with and projecting from the forward side of such collar portion 1 is a hook member 1 the base of which projects from the front side and outer edge of the collar land curves rearwardly through an arc of about 270 degrees until its extremity almost touches its base. The hook 1 is tapered on its upper side, as indicated at 1 so that it gradually narrows in thickness from a point near its base to its outer extremity. The other member of the hook comprises a capshaped body 2 slightly greater in diameter than the outer end of the collar 1 and flange 2? of said cap being adapted to fit on and over the outer end of collar 1. Cap member 2 is provided on its front side with an integral forwardly pro- Jecting hook member 2 substantially corresponding in form to the hook member 1,

but reverse thereto, and adapted to be di- The hook member 2 is tapered on its under side as at 2 corresponding with but oppositely to the tapered portion 1 of hook 1 so that when said hooks are brought together as indi cated in Fig. 2 they form a completely closed eye (Figs. 1 and 4) having a body of practically uniform thickness.

The flange 2" is cut away as at 2 adjacent hook 1 so as to permitthe cap member 2 to be turned on the collar member 1 through an arc of about 45 (see Fig. 3) to open the hook to permit engagement of the trace-eye or ring therewith, as hereinafter explained.

The cap member 2 may be secured to the end of the whittletree, and in position against the end of the collar 1, by means of a bolt or screw 3 passing through a central perforation 2 in the cap member and screwed into the end of the whiflletree. A washer 3 is preferably interposed between the head of bolt 3 and the cap member, as indicated in the drawing.

The trace-eye or ring 4 may be of ordinary constructiom'and is adapted to be engaged with the hook so as to connect the trace to the whitlletree. To engage'the traceeye with the hook the cap-member 2 is first turned to the position indicated in Fig. 3, and then the trace-eye is engaged withthe member 2 of the hook and turned to the position indi.

cated in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4; this will permit the body of the eye to pass the point of the lower hook member 1; then the hook member 2 can be closed upon memher 1, and the trace-eye can then be turned to the position shown in. full lines in Fig. 4-, and when in this position the trace-eye prevents opening of the hook, and at the same time is itself locked in the eye formed by the hook members. In this position any draft strain on the trace-eye is transmitted through both the hook members to the whiflletree. Further the draft on the hook member 2 will be transmitted direct to the collar 1 through the flange 2.

hen the trace-eye is in the position shown in Fig. 4, it cannot possibly become casually unlocked for any cause, either by short turning, or slackness of the traces; it cannot be disengaged unless and until it is forcibly turned to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. i and the tongue eye then raised with the hook member 2* above the plane of the hook member 1 (Fig. 3), in which position only the trace-eye can be disengaged from the hook member 2".

The screw 3 can be adjusted to hold the cap-member against the collar member with suflicient friction to prevent the hook members chattering, but the cap-member should not be pressed so tightly as to prevent its being readily shifted by hand to engage or disengage the trace-eye, in the manner stated.

It will be seen that my improved whiflletree hook can be very easily applied to an ordinary whiffietree; will impart a finished appearance to the end of such whiilietree, and thoroughly protect same; and that such hooks are durable, strong, and abso lutely safe and reliable in use.

lVhat I claim is:

A whiifletree hook, comprising a collar adapted to fit the end of the whiflietree and having a hook member projecting from its front side and outer edge, said hook member curving rearwardly and outwardly and taperedon its upper face from near its base to its point; a cap rotatably fitted against the outer end of the collar and having a peripheral flange fitted over and engaging the outer end of the collar, said flange being slotted adjacent the hook member on the collar to permit a limited extent of rotative movement of the cap relative to the collar, said cap also having an integral hook mem ber projecting from its front edge and outer side opposite to the 'hook member on the collar and tapered oppositely thereto; and a bolt passing loosely through an axial opening in the cap member and engaging the end of the whiflietree to retain the cap on the collar, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I afliX my signature.

J ACOB GANSLEY.

fiopies of this patent may be obtained for five ems each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents. Washington, I). G." 

